by Chris Winslow

When asked about plant choices for a new garden, I often steer customers
towards some of the tough beauties in the xeriscape section of the nursery.

One of the all-time greats here is Texas sage. I came across this comment
recently on the Floridata website: ‘Sage can face droughts, freezes, high
wind, salt spray, hungry deer and blazing heat, and keep right on performing
beautifully.’ This gives you some idea of the resilient nature of this plant.

They are native to the Trans Pecos region of southwest Texas, from Uvalde
to El Paso and on both sides of the Rio Grande, and they blossom with
beautiful bell-shaped flowers after a rain shower.

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In its desert habitat this evergreen shrub can reach 3 to 5 feet, and can get
even larger in a landscape setting with more water. Make sure your sage
gets at least 6 hours of sunlight. Anything less and it will start to look straggly.

Texas sage has silvery leaves that are pubescent (soft and furry to touch).
Flower colors range from blue to purple to pink to white. When you plant
sage, be sure to do some deep watering to help it get established and then
back off on the watering.

Texas sage requires good drainage. If your soil is heavy in clay, plant it in a
raised bed or mound. They do not respond well to fertilizers and composts,
and will bloom much better if left alone.

With the advent of plant breeding there is a new group of Texas sages that
exhibit different leaf and flower colors, as well as shapes. Here are some
of the more popular ones to look for:

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Silverado: a new dwarf silver leaf sage that can grow to 3 to 4 feet high
with dense foliage.

 

Silver cloud: grows 4 to 5 feet tall and has a dense form. Its silver foliage
has a beautifully contrasting deep purple flower.

Thunder cloud: this cenizo has a tight, compact growth habit reaching 3
feet. Its’ silvery-white foliage provides a great backdrop to its deep violet
flowers.

Rio Bravo: 3 to 4 feet tall with a 5 foot spread. Its’ flower color is blue
contrasted with teal, green foliage. This makes for a showy plant.

Green cloud: this sage has a green leaf with a violet to purple flower. A
vigorous grower that can reach 6 feet in height.

 

White cloud: this white flowering sage is also known as “Alba” and will
grow to 6 feet. 

Lynn’s Legacy or Lynn’s Ever blooming: discovered by famous Texas
botanist Lynn Lowery; it exhibits lavender flowers on rich green foliage.

On top of all this, wondrous sage can be made into a pleasant tea that’s
good for our health. Cenizo leaves, when dried and brewed in a pot for
tea, are said to have mildly sedative properties, and can be used to treat
headaches, fevers, colds, and flu. Happy Gardening Everyone!

(Sage photo credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/dad_and_clint/247450100/sizes/m/)

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       ON SALE THIS WEEK: 20% OFF ALL OF THE SAGES
              25% OFF ALL BASIL  (some restrictions apply)  
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Writer Russ Parsons (LA Times) suggests you forget the shopping list,
and allow your senses to guide you. Shopping with a list is like 'reading

sheet music,' writes Parsons. More thrilling is a 'jazz improv' approach,
where you choose what looks good, and figure out how to cook it later.
Click here for article:  farmers market  You can practice this new free-
wheeling approach at the Barton Creek Farmer's Market - where
Chris Winslow has a stand on Saturday mornings from 9 - 1 p.m.
www.bartoncreekfarmersmarket.org/